Mailing-receptacle



W. T. MMES.-

MAILING RECEPACLE.

`APPLICATION FILED mm2?, 1915.

Patented Dec.. 28, 1920.

WE j

unirse STATES WILLIAM THOMAS JAMES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIs.

MAILING-RECEPTACLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

`Application led December 27, 1915. Serial No. 68,689.

proved structure whereby a mailing receptacle, including, when desired, a money carrier, may be transmitted through the mail as open matter, subject to inspection by the post oiiice oflicials, and bear a relatively lower rate of postage, and which, when coins or bills have been inserted in the Kmoney carrier, may be re-mailed under the same cover, securely sealed against inspecV tion, or loss of the contents, the structure bearing at such a time a relatively higher rate of postage.

The principal objects of the present in vention are the provision ofV an improved article of the class specified which may carry on its unexposed surface a suitable form letter, or other advertising matter, and on the opposite or exposed surface one or more address portions which, alternately, when exposed, may be used for irst mailing by the sender, and then returning the receptacle to the sender; the provision of an improved structure of the nature specified which may be sent out in the rst instance open and returned either open or sealed, the provision of an improved form of money carrier for the purpose specified, and generally, the provision of an iniproved form of money carrying mailing receptacle which will not only hold the coins and other money more securely, but also be manufactured more cheaply, as well as transmitted through the mails more inex pensively than others known to me, together with such further objects as may hereafter appear.

1n attaining the objects referred to, together with certain additional benefits and advantages to be below disclosed, I have provided a structure one embodiment of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein :jy

Figure 1 is a plan view of a preferred form ofthe device;

-Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are, respectively, a plan view, a perspective view and a transverse sectional view of the device of Fig. l, illustrative of the steps of closing the receptacle when it is intended that the same shall be mailed out in open condition;

Figs. 5, 6, 7 and 8 are plan views, and Fig. 9 a cross-sectional view, of the device of Figs. 1 to 4, showing the consecutive steps of folding the receptacle preparatory to returning it to the original sender in sealed condition; and

Fig. 10 is an enlarged vertical cross-section of detail of construction lof one of the coin-carrying elements.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, it will be noted that in carryin out my invention in the form here showm employ a sheet of paper, or other suitable material, 10, which is preferably scored for holdin at the points indicated at 11 and 12, the corners at each side being cut away, as indicated at 13-l3, and notches provided, as indicated at 14h14, in order to provide oppositely disposed flaps, as indicated at 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, the structure thus formed when folded providing three fold portions, including a central portion 22, and end portions 23 and 24 (see Fig. 3). The flaps 20 and 21 are preferably given an adhesive surface, as indicated at 25, 26. An adhesive may, if desired, likewise be applied to the flaps 18 and 19, as indicated at 27 and 28, when such iaps are employed, and when it is desired to retain the coin carrier 29 permanently in position on the sheet 10 so as to form a pocket for the reception of paper money, or a check or money order, an adhesive ma-y be applied to the fiaps 16 and 17, as indicated at 30 and 31.

The coin carrier 29 comprises preferably a suitable sheet of cardboard, or like material, which has a suitable number of punched-out portions, as indicated at 32, 32, against which the edges of the coin abut, and a number of slits 84 forming holding strips 35, 36, and an intermediate holding strip 37 for gripping the coin therebetween.

In the use of the device the communicagr Y 1,369,252'

The coin carrier 29 is placed on the sheet" 10, as shown in Fig. 1. Y Then, as shown in Fig. 2, the flaps 18 and 19 (where-such are used, for example, to strengthen the device) are turned inward, as are also the flaps 20 and 21, as shown in Fig. 2. The portionl 24: is then folded against the portion 22, as shown 'in Fig. 3, and the portion 23 is next brought over against the portion 211, and finally the flaps 16 and 17, respectively, are tucked into position between the aps 18-20 and 19-21, as 'shown in Fig. 4, the the structure thus Vpresented being mailable as matter open to inspection at a relatively low rate of postage.

llihen, however, the addressee desires to return the structure with the coin-carrier 29 sealed against inspection, he may place it against the portion 23, and by nioistening the adhesive applied to the surface opposite to that shown in the drawing, and contained between the dotted line 38 and the margin of the `carrier 29 form a bill carrying pocket, then fold down the flaps 16 and 17, next fold over the 'members 29 and 23 against the surface 22, seal the flaps 18 and 19 against the outer surface of the portion 23, as shown in Fig. 7, then fold over the surface 24'against the surface 23, thus concealing, but Vnot destroying the address of the original addressee, nowV the remitter, and disclosing the address of the first sender, now the addressee, as shown in Fig. 8. The {iaps 2O and 21 may now be sealed in position fully securing the contents of the envelop structure thus formed against inspection, such structure being shown in longitudinal cross-section in Fig. 9.

Reverting now more particularly to Fig. 1, it will be observed that by the employment of the form of coin carrier here shown, I am able to utilize the strips 35 and 36 which contact with one surface of thev coin, and a strip 37 contacting with the opposite surface of the coin to firmly grasp the coin desire to secure by in position, the forni of the'cut-outs 32 bey -ing such astouhold the coin against lateral movement, there being, of course, suficient pliability in the strips 35, 36, 37 to enable enough distortion of Vsuch strips to permit the slippinV of the coin therebetween and-` into the .socket formed by the ycut-outs 82, as is clearly shown in Fig. 10.

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and Letters Patent is the following 1. A mailing receptacle having three consecutive folds, each fold having a pair of laterally projecting flaps all having adhesive on the same side when the receptacle is unfolded, each pair to be used successively as sealing means whereby the receptacle may be held in closed position.

2. A mailing receptacle having three consecutive folds, one of said folds being provided with a pair of laterally 4projecting aps adapted for insertion between two of said fold portions whereby the receptacle may be held in closed position without preventing withdrawal of the flaps for inspection of the contents of the receptacle, said other two folds each having a pair of laterally projecting fiaps, all of said flaps being provided on the same side when the receptacle is unfolded with an adhesive portion adapted to engage an opposite fold portion and thereby seal the receptacle against inspection.

3. i mailing receptacle having three consecutive folds, each fold having a pair of laterally projecting aps, all of said flaps being provided on the same side when the receptacle is unfolded with an adhesive portion adapted to engage an opposite fold portion and thereby seal the receptacle against inspection. Y

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

WLLIAM THOMAS JAMES. lVitnesses DONALD C. VILLIAMs, WILLIAM GOLDBERGER. 

